AP PHOTOS: Hungry ghosts descend on Chinese homes

In this Sunday Aug. 25, 2013 photo, villagers throw paper money from a boat during a ceremony to mark the "Hungry Ghost Festival" off a shore of an outlying island in Hong Kong. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated during the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. During the month-long festival, usually in the summer, Chinese people make offerings of food, "Hell money," and paper-made models of items such as televisions, servants and sport cars are burnt to appease the wandering spirits. It is believed that the gates of hell are opened during the month and the dead ancestors return to visit their relatives. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

In this Wednesday Aug. 21, 2013 photo, two women burn paper money or locally known as "Hell Money," during the "Hungry Ghost Festival" in Hong Kong. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated during the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. During the month-long festival, usually in the summer, Chinese people make offerings of food, "Hell money," and paper-made models of items such as televisions, servants and sport cars are burnt to appease the wandering spirits. It is believed that the gates of hell are opened during the month and the dead ancestors return to visit their relatives. Hell money is considered as money to be used by the dead in hell. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

In this Wednesday Aug. 21, 2013 photo, paper money, or locally known as "Hell Money" are burnt as offerings during the "Hungry Ghost Festival" at a old district in Hong Kong. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated during the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. During the month-long festival, usually in the summer, Chinese people make offerings of food, "Hell money," and paper-made models of items such as televisions, servants and sport cars are burnt to appease the wandering spirits. It is believed that the gates of hell are opened during the month and the dead ancestors return to visit their relatives. Hell money is considered as money to be used by the dead in hell. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

In this Tuesday Aug. 20, 2013 photo, Chinese opera actresses wait for their performance at a makeshift theater during the "Hungry Ghost Festival" in Hong Kong. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated during the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. During the month-long festival, usually in the summer, Chinese people make offerings of food, "Hell money," and paper-made models of items such as televisions, servants and sport cars are burnt to appease the wandering spirits. It is believed that the gates of hell are opened during the month and the dead ancestors return to visit their relatives. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

In this Tuesday Aug. 20, 2013 photo, a Chinese opera actress drinks a bowl of soup before her performance at a makeshift theater during the "Hungry Ghost Festival" in Hong Kong. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated during the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. During the month-long festival, usually in the summer, Chinese people make offerings of food, "Hell money," and paper-made models of items such as televisions, servants and sport cars are burnt to appease the wandering spirits. It is believed that the gates of hell are opened during the month and the dead ancestors return to visit their relatives. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

In this Tuesday Aug. 20, 2013 photo, a Chinese opera actor waits for his performance at a makeshift theater to mark the "Hungry Ghost Festival" in Hong Kong. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated during the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. During the month-long festival, usually in the summer, Chinese people make offerings of food, "Hell money," and paper-made models of items such as televisions, servants and sport cars are burnt to appease the wandering spirits. It is believed that the gates of hell are opened during the month and the dead ancestors return to visit their relatives. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

In this Sunday Aug. 25, 2013 photo, a villager waits on a boat before a ceremony for the "Hungry Ghost Festival" begins at an outlying island in Hong Kong. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated during the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. During the month-long festival, usually in the summer, Chinese people make offerings of food, "Hell money," and paper-made models of items such as televisions, servants and sport cars are burnt to appease the wandering spirits. It is believed that the gates of hell are opened during the month and the dead ancestors return to visit their relatives. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

In this Tuesday Aug. 20, 2013 photo, Taoists attend a service to mark the "Hungry Ghost Festival" in Hong Kong. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated during the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. During the month-long festival, usually in the summer, Chinese people make offerings of food, "Hell money," and paper-made models of items such as televisions, servants and sport cars are burnt to appease the wandering spirits. It is believed that the gates of hell are opened during the month and the dead ancestors return to visit their relatives. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

In this Wednesday Aug. 21, 2013 photo, a woman walks near two women burning "Hell Money," during the "Hungry Ghost Festival" in Hong Kong. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated during the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. During the month-long festival, usually in the summer, Chinese people make offerings of food, "Hell money," and paper-made models of items such as televisions, servants and sport cars are burnt to appease the wandering spirits. It is believed that the gates of hell are opened during the month and the dead ancestors return to visit their relatives. Hell money is considered as money to be used by the dead in hell. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

In this Tuesday Aug. 20, 2013 photo, a woman holding candles walks past a paper reproduction of the "Ghost King" at a makeshift theater during the "Hungry Ghost Festival" in Hong Kong. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated during the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. During the month-long festival, usually in the summer, Chinese people make offerings of food, "Hell money," and paper-made models of items such as televisions, servants and sport cars are burnt to appease the wandering spirits. It is believed that the gates of hell are opened during the month and the dead ancestors return to visit their relatives. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

In this Tuesday Aug. 20, 2013 photo, local residents wait for a Chinese opera performance at a makeshift theater during the "Hungry Ghost Festival" in Hong Kong. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated during the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. During the month-long festival, usually in the summer, Chinese people make offerings of food, "Hell money," and paper-made models of items such as televisions, servants and sport cars are burnt to appease the wandering spirits. It is believed that the gates of hell are opened during the month and the dead ancestors return to visit their relatives. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

In this Tuesday Aug. 20, 2013 photo, a man looks at a list of donors for an opera at a makeshift theater during the "Hungry Ghost Festival" in Hong Kong. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated during the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. During the month-long festival, usually in the summer, Chinese people make offerings of food, "Hell money," and paper-made models of items such as televisions, servants and sport cars are burnt to appease the wandering spirits. It is believed that the gates of hell are opened during the month and the dead ancestors return to visit their relatives. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

In this Tuesday Aug. 20, 2013 photo, a Chinese opera actress puts on make-up at a makeshift theater during the "Hungry Ghost Festival" in Hong Kong. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated during the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. During the month-long festival, usually in the summer, Chinese people make offerings of food, "Hell money," and paper-made models of items such as televisions, servants and sport cars are burnt to appease the wandering spirits. It is believed that the gates of hell are opened during the month and the dead ancestors return to visit their relatives. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

In this Sunday Aug. 25, 2013 photo, a paper reproduction of the Ghost King is set up at a temple during the "Hungry Ghost Festival" at an outlying island in Hong Kong. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated during the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. During the month-long festival, usually in the summer, Chinese people make offerings of food, "Hell money," and paper-made models of items such as televisions, servants and sport cars are burnt to appease the wandering spirits. It is believed that the gates of hell are opened during the month and the dead ancestors return to visit their relatives. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

In this Tuesday Aug. 20, 2013 photo, local residents pray and burn incense sticks during the "Hungry Ghost Festival" in Hong Kong. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated during the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. During the month-long festival, usually in the summer, Chinese people make offerings of food, "Hell money," and paper-made models of items such as televisions, servants and sport cars are burnt to appease the wandering spirits. It is believed that the gates of hell are opened during the month and the dead ancestors return to visit their relatives. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

In this Tuesday Aug. 20, 2013 photo, paper servants are placed as offerings during the "Hungry Ghost Festival" at an old district in Hong Kong. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated during the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. During the month-long festival, usually in the summer, Chinese people make offerings of food, "Hell money," and paper-made models of items such as televisions, servants and sport cars are burnt to appease the wandering spirits. It is believed that the gates of hell are opened during the month and the dead ancestors return to visit their relatives. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)